The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-12
FALSE VIEWS CORRECTED
A STRAIGHTFORWARD STORY OF
THE MIDLAND RAILROAD.
Reasons Why the Subscription Asked
Should Be Granted-lhe
County Court.

interest IN the mlulAnn ralIroaO
project is deepening, and under the
influence OF a clearer understanding cf
the object and nsture OF the subsCrlp-
ton asked from the county, turning in
favor OF the enterprise. In order to
get at the bottom facts q reporter
called on Mr.. W. d. Bethel yesterday
and solicited information on the sub.
Jet under aglt ton. The gentlem IN
deprecated tue opposition of few
leading bus ness men, but attributed
their s,a,e OF feeling to misroncep-
ton OF the real facts. Among other
things Mr.. B,hell said.
"TheIe are two OF three gentlemen
here who seem 10 be under the i'm
precision that the Midland is a private
enterprise, or close corr grafton. That
is altogether a mistake. 1t is not so
understood by me, nor by the other
gentlemen who are endeavoring TO
push it through to completion. The
obieci is not so'ely for personal bsne.
fit After the surveys have been made,
the pr ties drawn 10 and the road Ia
deemed prscti abe, the subscription
books will be opened. The stock will
be available to all and any nan, woman
or child can purcha it on the ground
flor. II the enterprise proves uncer-
tain, unpro6t BILE, and wisdom dictates
abandonment, We simply lose the
IN lney we have already ut in.
Another view some OF the oppo-
neuts take is h at it is private euter-
prise, with promises OF heavy returns,
~ ..,n he nAasutWNtntnA xNyhnNhaR kh..
county subscribes or not, That Is by
no means certain. The proposed route
Is through country d ihcult to place
in proper shape for rosdbed, and
nect ssitating unusually heavy ex
pense. Nearly thirty years ago
charter was granted for practically the
same road, but the promoters we're
overcome by these barriers and gave
it up. At later day another charter
was obtained, and some OF the grading
actually done. The same causes led
to its abandonment There are two
or three charters now in existence,
and it may be possible that the Mid
land will be built at some future day,
but not now. II the people don't
want it at present, and are willing TO
wait until that distant day arrives,
that is all right.
"There is another erroneous impress.
sion abroad which calls for correction,
which is: Those who have not inves-
tigated the m after think the company
has already organised, arranged the
capital stock, g. d are ready to begin
operations. Neither OF these opinions
is correct. True, meeting WAS held
and officers chosen, but it was merely
for the purpose OF getting the enter
prise in some sort of shape for
progress. There has as yet been no
construction company Organized, and
the capitsl stock Is not fixed. Because
three or four names of Memphis men
and few from Nashville appear as
stockholders is no evidence that we
are the only ones who have or can get
stock. That TACT merely signifies tlat
we are anxious to secure the road,
have faith In it, and demonstrate our
faith by investing. l am free to say,
and mean it, that should the road
become an assured fact, aud there is
not enough sock to 60 round, will
place every share now subscribed for
by me- on the market in order to &C.
commodate those who want it.
"As to the bent fits aceruing 10 all
classes, there can be no PRESTON. 1t
| will bring business here for al, not
excepting the laboriDg men. Even
the rallr ads recognizo this, and at the
same tims See 1t W II not initiate
against them. This p ,ssiby does not
| include the Louisville and Nashville
aud Memphis and Charleston, I r
their business may be divided Bat
| the Illinois Cen raj ha3 even gone so
far as to opeuly favor aud encourage
the enterprise, Tor the reason that il
will serve as 1, eder to them. This
is al % true Of all the roads leading
north, west and south.
"We do not propose 10 beat our way,
but TO pay for everything nee 3sesry.
Fo. instance, il the road runs through
the property OF q man who asks com
pensatioD, we EXPECT and are wi ling
| 10 Day for it. This 10 f4irer means
than q q eat many OH RAIDS have
adopted, aud by it We expec ct to secure
aud maintain the good will OF every
body opg the line.
at strikes me that all these facts,
together with the guarantee that the
road will be built and running BIT fore
q cent is asked, should impress
people with the safety OF the invest
ment asked. Itthey would only stop to
consider that the line will ruu through
the wor part OF the State, 80 far as
railroad construction Is concerned,
they would zee the reasonableness OF
our request. 1t is a eection studi-
ously avoided by the Memphis and
Charleston and Louisville aud Nash
vile because Of the heavy additional
expense attached TO preparing road
bed, and 1t is more on account oil THE
that the bonus is asked. However, 1t
ia perfectly legitimae for people TO
think for them elves, and If, In the
face Of this straightforward declaration
of our obi ct and purposts, they see
proper to c,ing to opposing views, We
c ,nnot help 1t. The road may prob
ably bs built some day, anyhow, aud
the only thing left for us is to wait
Until that day comes"
HOW THE COUNTY COURT FEELS.
Askirmish WAS then m de among
some OF the avail able members Of The
County Court. The popular belief is
that the question will be submitted.
As one Of them said, cite County
| O u-t has bsen cursed ard abused
about bonds previously issued, and the
people shall not have a chance TO
blame US in this instance. II they
want the road to have the 100000 let
them say 30 at the ba lot box, and that
settles it."
Railroad Taxes for the County.
Ths Shelby county railroad taxes for
1886, as appears ofIicis ly on the tax
booEs, shows amounts paid by eaCn
railroad Running through the county
as follows:
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
26 40100 miles; distribuiabls prop
erty, 1926, 1927; localiz ID, 1876, 7i5; total
1851 ,602; total taxes paid county
| 43255 81